THE KAITANGATA FETE.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 371, 18 March 1879, Page 2

THE KAITANGATA FETE.

(Per Peiss Agency.) CHRiBTCHURCH,.I7th March. Business of all kinds has been entirely suspended to-day, the Kaitangata fete engaging the attention of all classes of the community, from the Mayor downwards. Englishmen are not apt to throw off their shell of reserve, but when they do apparently it. is with a vengeance. Anyone who might have passed the theatre shortly before noon to-day would have ' been .quite convinced of the truth of this i remark. Grave and reverend Council-men might have been seen rushing violently about clad in robes of all the centuries, and leading merchants with blackened faces were as common as blackberries. The start of the procession for the cricket ground was made* from Gloucester-street at twelve noon. The procession formed was made up as follows : — Mounted men in armor, band, Mayo? and officers of the City Council, exCouncillors, &c, Fire Brigade. Seager Dramatic Company, Odd Fellows, Mephistopheles and Satellites, Foresters, Braids, King of Pain, H.A.C.B. Society Band, Members of the Muff Cricket Match Association. Mr. Hulbert made a most efficient marshall in chain armor, with Mr. Alport as trumpeter in ordinary. The procession passed along Colomba-street, High-street, Cashel-street, and so to the Hagley Park cricket ground, where the stumps for the muff cricket match were pitched. Here also were numbers of refreshment booths, and i places of amusement in large numbers. Toe principal attraction was a canvas theatre. There was performed the thrilling tragedy of " Ruganto the Relentless; or, the Wandering Warlwsk of the Ghastly Gorge." The parts were -taken by Mes«rs. Hill, Stark, Utting, Searle, Seager, Hart, Miss Hill, and Mrs. Seager,' »nd were 'sufficiently thrilling. Other excitements were the show containing the , two-legged foal and the eighUletrged lamb; Miss Andrew's fortune telling; Mr. M'Leary's plate-spinning entertainment; Mr. Seager's corps de ballet, performing the Maypole dance; a dwarf sixteen inches; and Professor Scott's omnium gatherum. . A very large number of people it is stated were on the ground, and the weather was agreeable, though slightly dull, and at 3 o'clock there were about 15,000 people present, and the fete was at its haight. To-night the theatre and the promenade concert at the drill-shed aro crowded, and a ball and a display of fireworks follow the concert It is not at present known how much has been raised by to-day's fete and the evening's amusement, but it will not be found much if anything under £1000. 18th March. The total takings at the fete yesterday, and theatre and concert, amounted to over £800 so far as is known, but the total returns are not yet in. The Tiraaru and ChristcnuTCh match is a very hollow affair. The first innings of Timaru closed for 82, that of Christchurch for 205. The game is now on, and is expected to result in a one innings victory for Christchurch •